Dong Nai City - “Green lung” of Southeastern Vietnam

With the largest forest area in the Southeast region, a forest coverage rate among the highest in the country, and home to a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Dong Nai is considered the “green lung” of Southern Vietnam.

In its long-term development strategy, Dong Nai City has consistently maintained the view that economic development must go hand in hand with forest protection, biodiversity conservation, and the sustainable use of natural resources.

An invaluable resource

As an industrial center and one of the country’s seven cities, Dong Nai also possesses a full range of forests, lakes, and wetland ecosystems, forming a continuous ecological belt that contributes to maintaining the stability of forest ecosystems across Southeastern Vietnam.

Planting trees in the mangrove forest area in Phuoc An Commune. Photo: Binh Nguyen

Perhaps the most typical example is Cat Tien National Park, one of Vietnam’s relatively intact tropical rainforest areas. According to the Dong Nai Forest Protection Department, the park is home to more than 1,600 plant species and over 1,700 animal species, including dozens of endangered and rare species prioritized for protection such as gaurs, bears, primates, and many bird species.

Equally rich in biodiversity is the Dong Nai Nature and Culture Reserve, where forests, lakes, and rivers are intertwined. According to figures released by the reserve’s management board, the area contains more than 2,100 animal species and over 1,500 plant species, including many rare species of global significance.

In the northern area of the city, Bu Gia Map National Park is another biodiversity hotspot, with more than 1,100 plant species and over 832 animal species. Similar to the two aforementioned areas, this national park is home to a number of endemic flora and fauna species.

Member of the City Party Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the City People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang stated that Dong Nai’s forest ecosystem is a “treasure trove” preserving many rare genetic resources and serves as an important ecological shield for the locality and the Southeast region. Moreover, forests help protect water resources, regulate the climate, reduce the impacts of natural disasters, and improve resilience to climate change. These factors form an important foundation for Dong Nai City to maintain a balance between urban and industrial development and nature conservation, moving toward green growth and sustainable development.

To preserve these invaluable resources, since the late 20th century, Dong Nai has implemented a policy of closing natural forests and adopted the principle of not sacrificing the environment for economic growth. All projects affecting forest land are strictly controlled, while encroachment and illegal construction on forestry land are dealt with rigorously.

Visitors tour and pose for commemorative photos at Bu Gia Map National Park. Photo: Minh Luan

At the same time, the city has introduced many investment policies for forest protection, fire prevention and firefighting, and the application of digital technology and remote sensing in forest resource monitoring. Forest protection contracting programs have both improved management efficiency and created stable livelihoods for people living in buffer zones. The city has also approved sustainable forest management plans for each period and each forest owner, while implementing projects such as improving forest quality and developing the multiple-use values of forest ecosystems.

A resource for green growth

Forests are valuable resources, and Dong Nai is moving toward effectively exploiting the natural and biodiversity values derived from forests.

Biodiversity in Cat Tien National Park, Dong Nai City.

A clear example is that the city has developed and implemented numerous projects and plans for eco-tourism, community tourism, and resort tourism associated with areas possessing outstanding advantages in forests, lakes, mountains, and natural landscapes. Typical examples include Cat Tien National Park, Tri An Lake, the Dong Nai Nature and Culture Reserve, Chua Chan Mountain, and Ba Ra Mountain. Developing tourism in these advantageous areas helps attract visitors, increase budget revenues, and raise public awareness of nature conservation and biodiversity protection.

Nguyen Van Minh, Deputy Director of Cat Tien National Park, said that Dong Nai’s forests bring tremendous value to development. They help retain water resources for millions of downstream residents, protect Tri An Lake to ensure clean water supply and power generation, and provide habitats for thousands of rare animal and plant species.

By the end of 2025, Dong Nai had more than 370,000 hectares of forests and forestry land, with a forest coverage rate of 25.25%. Forests in Dong Nai are characterized by their rich biodiversity value.

Member of the Standing Board of the City Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee Nguyen Tuan Anh stated that alongside economic growth, Dong Nai City has always clearly identified harmonious development goals, placing people at the center while prioritizing environmental protection and improving residents’ quality of life. Currently, the total area of forests and non-forested land in the locality is 370,000 hectares, the largest in the Southeast region. In the coming period, Dong Nai will continue afforestation in areas with declining tree cover, carry out compensatory afforestation when forest land is used for socio-economic development projects, and expand tree planting in public spaces.

Dong Nai is ready to take on the role of a new growth pole for the country. On that journey, the city remains steadfast in its commitment to strictly protecting forest areas and maintaining a high forest coverage rate. Protection here does not mean completely “closing off” forests, but rather managing, utilizing, and effectively promoting the ecological, landscape, biodiversity, and carbon absorption values of forests, thereby creating momentum for green, harmonious, and sustainable socio-economic development.

By Hoang Loc - Translated by Diec Quyen, Thu Ha